Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To whom the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman is responsible.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Under the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is a fixed period appointment by Her Majesty. In certain circumstances as detailed in the legislation the ombudsman may be called upon to resign by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The ombudsman's office is operationally independent of the Government in the execution of its functions but provides an annual report to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Surveillance Commissioners

Viscount Simon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	If there is to be an announcement about the appointment and re-appointment of Surveillance Commissioners under Part III of the Police Act 1997.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: In accordance with Section 91 of the Police Act 1997, after consultation with the Scottish Ministers, the Prime Minister has agreed to appoint and re-appoint the following Surveillance Commissioners to assist Sir Andrew Leggatt, the Chief Surveillance Commissioner. There are three commissioners for England and Wales, two for Scotland and one for Northern Ireland. However, the remit of each commissioner covers the whole of the United Kingdom so that any commissioner can act in jurisdictions other than his own.
	The Prime Minister has appointed, from 1 November 2001, as a Commissioner the right honourable Lord Sutherland, who served as a judge of the Court of Session from 1985 to 2001, for a period of three years.
	He has also reappointed as commissioners:
	Sir Charles McCullough who was appointed as Surveillance Commissioner in 1998 and is reappointed for a further three years from 1 November 2001. He served as a High Court judge of the Queen's Bench Division from 1981 to 1998.
	The right honourable Sir Michael Hutchison who was appointed as Surveillance Commissioner in 1998 and is reappointed for a further three years from 1 November 2001. He served as a Lord Justice of Appeal from 1995 to 1999.
	Lord Bonomy who was appointed as Surveillance Commissioner in 1998 and is reappointed for a further three years from 1 November 2001. He has been a judge of the Court of Session since 1997.
	The right honourable Sir John MacDermott who was appointed as Surveillance Commissioner in 1998 and is reappointed, 1 November 2001, until 1 October 2003.
	The commissioners are appointed under the provisions of Part III of the Police Act 1997. The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 extended the commissioners' remit. Since the authorisation of intrusive surveillance operations forms a key component of the Government's response to serious and organised crime, I attach considerable importance to these appointments and I am delighted that the commissioners have accepted their appointments. In conjunction with Sir Andrew Leggatt, their substantial judicial experience, particularly of the criminal justice system, will provide independent oversight of surveillance operations, which, although operationally important, must also be subject to stringent safeguards.

Civil Servants: Guidance on Conduct of Government Business before Elections

Lord King of West Bromwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What advice has been given to civil servants on the conduct of government business during the forthcoming elections to local councils on 2 May.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Government have issued guidance to civil servants on the principles which they should observe in relation to the conduct of government business in the period before the forthcoming elections.
	The guidance stresses that civil servants should conduct themselves in accordance with the Civil Service Code and is based on the need to maintain the political impartiality of the Civil Service and the need to ensure that public resources are not used for party political purposes. The guidance will come into force on 11 April. Copies of the guidance have been placed in the Library of the House, and are also available from the Vote Office.

Golden Jubilee Celebrations

Baroness Massey of Darwen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What further plans there are for celebrating the 50th anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen's accession to the throne.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: I announced on 29 January 2002, Official Report, WA 30, the programme of visits and other events throughout the United Kindgom from May to August this year, which will be undertaken by Her Majesty and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, to mark the Golden Jubilee.
	I am, therefore, pleased to be able to announce further details of the programme of Jubilee visits to the London boroughs which they will carry out during the summer of this year. Although the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will not be able to visit every borough, their itinerary will enable them to meet as many Londoners as possible.
	The programme is as follows:
	East London
	9 May — The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will visit Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest. The Queen will also visit Barking and Dagenham.
	North London
	6 June — The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will visit Barnet, Brent and Haringey.
	West London
	25 June — The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will visit Bushy Park, Gunnersbury Park, Hillingdon and Kingston-upon-Thames.
	South London
	4 July — The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will visit Croydon, Crystal Palace and Lewisham.
	These details, together with further information about other confirmed Golden Jubilee celebrations and events can be found on the searchable calendar of events on the official Golden Jubilee website at http://www/goldenjubilee.gov.uk/. The British Monarchy website at http://www.royal.gov.uk/ aslo has details of the Queen's programme and other royal engagements. These will be updated throughout the year as confirmation of events is received.

Yugoslavia: Assistance with Refugees

Lord Howell of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assistance and financial funding they are currently providing, or intend to provide, to the appropriate authorities in Yugoslavia for the resettlement and assimilation of 450,000 refugees from Croatia and Bosnia, and 190,000 Serbs from Kosovo, who have fled from their original homes and wish to stay in their new locations in Yugoslavia.

Baroness Amos: The UK assists through its 19.6 per cent share of EC programmes. Between 1999 and 2001, this share of support from the EU Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) allocated to Serbia, including for refugees from Kosovo, was 173 million.
	ECHO has circulated a strategy to support refugees and internally displaced persons in the Republic of Serbia, with an 18-month programme costed at 35.9 million. The strategy is to be discussed with EU member states on 21 March.

Colonel David de Vinatea

Lord Clarke of Hampstead: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will be making representations to the Peruvian Government concerning the case of Colonel David de Vinatea, imprisoned on narco-trafficking charges, who remains in prison despite the conclusions of human rights organisations that he is entirely innocent of the charges against him.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We understand that the sentence of Col. David de Vinatea has been commuted and he is currently awaiting release. Our embassy in Lima is closely monitoring his case and we hope that release will be soon. The Foreign Office has consistently lobbied the Peruvian authorities concerning the issue of unlawful imprisonment. Since March 1998, we have contributed over £140,000 to assist the work of the Peruvian Ad-Hoc Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Ombudsman in investigating the cases of those unjustly accused. On their recommendations, over 400 prisoners have been released to date.

Foreign Policy Work by Non-public Bodies: Government Grants

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which foreign policy think tanks have received grants from the Government over the past five years; and what was the amount of money in each case.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not award "grant-in-aid" to "foreign policy think tanks". But grant-in-aid is awarded to other non-public bodies involved in foreign policy work, including the British-Russia Centre, the British East-West Centre, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the British Association for Central and Eastern Europe and the Great Britain-China Centre. The FCO also pays for corporate membership of some foreign policy institutions (including "think tanks") and sponsors individual conferences and events in support of FCO objectives. As to the Royal Institute of International Affairs and the Foreign Policy Centre, I refer the noble Lord to Answers which my noble friend Lady Amos gave him on 18 March, Official Report, WA 117-18.

Universal Postal Service

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Postcomm's recent proposals for postal competition will threaten the provision of a universal postal service based on a standard United Kingdom-wide tariff; and, in the event that they affect the ability of Consignia to provide such a service while maintaining commercial viability, whether the shortfall will be met by government subsidy or an increase in postage rates.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: It is Postcomm's primary statutory duty to ensure the provision of a universal postal service at a tariff uniform throughout the UK.
	Postcomm currently requires Consignia plc, in the licence, to provide a universal postal service. The licence provides that any proposals by Consignia for an increase in the price of first and second-class mail needs approval by Postcomm.

Universal Postal Service

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the primary responsibility of Postcomm, laid down by the Postal Services Act 2000, is to ensure the provision of a universal postal service at a uniform tariff throughout the United Kingdom(HL3222)
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Yes. Under the legislation Postcomm shall exercise its functions in the manner which it considers is best calculated to ensure the provision of a universal postal service.

Universal Postal Service

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider it acceptable for residents in rural areas to have to collect their post from a central point in the locality such as a village post office instead of having it delivered to their door.(HL3223)
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Postal Services Act 2000 lays down the universal postal service includes the delivery each working day to the home or premises of every individual in the UK.
	The legislation does provide for the possibility that some addresses will receive less than this but only in exceptional circumstances. Such exceptions must be justified and agreed with Postcomm.

Gulf War Veterans: Khamisiyah Demolitions

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consideration they have given to the statistics released by the United States Veterans Affairs Secretary showing dramatically higher death rates among Khamisyah veterans of the Gulf War, suggesting exposure to Sarin chemical warfare agents; and what action they are taking in relation to British servicemen and women who were in the area at the same time(HL3086)
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Bach: The Government's initial assessment of the implications for UK personnel of the Khamisiyah demolitions was published in December 1999 in a Ministry of Defence paper entitled Review of Events concerning 32 Field Hospital and the Release of Nerve Agent Arising From US Demolition of Iraqi Munitions at the Khamisiyah Depot In March 1991. The paper is available in the Library of the House and on the Internet at http://www.mod.uk/issues/gulfwar/info/khamisiyah.htm. The paper's main conclusion was that the possible level of nerve agent exposure would have no detectable effect on human health, either in the short or long term.
	The statistics recently released by the US Veterans Benefits Administration are believed to be based on remodelling of the theoretical plume of nerve agent which may have been released by the demolitions carried out subsequently. The MoD is seeking to establish from the US authorities the full scientific basis for the remodelling. Once this has been obtained and analysed, I will write to the noble Lord and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

MoD Budget

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are confident that the security of the United Kingdom will not be endangered if there is no increase in the Ministry of Defence budget for the next financial year to counter terrorism and pay for any additional overseas commitments.

Lord Bach: Funds to meet the additional cost of overseas commitments are sought at Main Estimates, once a taut and realistic estimate has been calculated. In 2001–02 they were shown under Request for Resources 2, Conflict Prevention. Additional funds were provided at Spring Supplementary Estimates 2001–02 to meet in full the additional costs which the Ministry of Defence had incurred on operations overseas. A similar process will be followed for 2002–03. Separate work is in progress on counter terrorism. Once realistic Estimates for this requirement have been determined, additional funding, where necessary, will be sought.

Royal Armoured Corps Regiments and Infantry Battalions: Replacement of B Vehicles

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the planned date for replacing B vehicles in Royal Armoured Corps regiments and infantry battalions.

Lord Bach: There are a number of programmes that will introduce replacements for operational combat support vehicles (B vehicles) in Royal Armoured Corps regiments and the infantry battalions. The in-service dates for these fleets vary from 2004 to 2009, with deliveries in each continuing for a number of years thereafter.

Challenger 2 Battle Tanks

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the total number of Challenger 2 battle tanks that will be bought; and if this number is fewer than 348 tanks, where the balance of tanks will come from to retain regiments at a 58-tank war establishment.

Lord Bach: 386 Challenger main battle tanks have been purchased. The last one is due to be delivered next month. jenny

Historic Ships: Heritage Lottery Funding

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the total amount awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to the preservation and conservation of historic ships in 2000 and 2001; which ships were the subject of these awards; and which bodies are responsible for managing the funds awarded to maintain the ships.

Baroness Blackstone: The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded the following amounts to the preservation and conservation of historic ships:
	2000—£4,311,081 in 12 grants;
	2001—£4,864,400 in 5 grants.
	Details of the ships and the bodies responsible are given in the following table.
	
		Heritage Lottery Fund grants awarded to the preservation of ships in 2000
		
			 Applicant Project Title Awarded Description Decision Date 
			 Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust Chatham Historic Dockyard— HMS Gannet Restoration £1,212,000 Restoration of HMS Gannet which symbolised the technological transition from timber to steel construction March 2000 
			 Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust HMS Gannet Development Study £260,500 Restoration of HMS Gannet, the last surviving Victorian sloop of the Royal Navy May 2000 
			 HMS Cavalier (Chatham) Consortium HMS Cavalier Preservation Phase II £665,781 Preservation and interpretation of World War II destroyer June 2000 
			 ss Great Britain Project ss Great Britain—Securing the Heritage Core £350,000 Conservation of the fabric of the iron steamship ss Great Britain July 2000 
			 Frinton & Walton Heritage Trust James Stevens No 14 Lifeboat—Restoration £75,000 Restoration of the James Stevens No 14 liftboat to seagoing condition for exhibition in association with Walton Maritime museum as well as being used for demonstration trips August 2000 
			 Royal Navy Submarine Museum Holland 1 conversion and interpretation £671,000 Conversion of existing building as a viewing gallery for submarine Holland 1, also include repairs to sub August 2000 with grant increase March 2001 
			 Clyde Maritime Trust Ltd Glenlee Restoration Phase III £180,000 Completion of the restoration works on the SV Glenlee as well as provision of mooring and access arrangements October 2000 
			 Boat Museum Society Restoration of 1912 Tunnel Tug "Worcester" £33,600 Restoration of "Worcester"; production of display and educational material December 2000 
			 Consuta Trust Consuta Umpire Launch Restoration £38,200 Restore and preserve the steam launch Consuta and display to the public at water based events December 2000 
			 Imperial War Museum HMS Belfast Sleep-over Accommodation £50,000 To extend physical and educational access to school children and youth groups and to enhance their experience of the historic warship by providing overnight accommodation in two of HMS Belfast's original messdecks December 2000 
			 Shropshire Union Fly-Boat Restoration Society Ltd Saturn: Relaunching the Shropshire Union Fly-Boat £50,000 The restoration of the last floating example of a wooden horse-drawn Shropshire Union Fly-Boat using traditional skills. The boat will be used in waterway events and education December 2000 
			 Warrior Preservation Trust Ltd. HMS Warrior 1860, Portsmouth—Repairs £725,000 Replacement of upper deck of the HMS Warrior 1860 December 2000 
			   
			 Total (12)  £4,311,081 
		
	
	
		Heritage Lottery Fund grants awarded to the preservation of ships in 2001
		
			 Applicant Project Title Awarded Description Decision Date 
			 MV Wincham Preservation Society Ltd MV Wincham Renovation £47,400 Renovation of 1948 ship January 2001 
			 Dunkirk Little Ships Restoration Trust Steam Tug "Challenge", Southampton—Restoration £274,500 To secure the future of the only surviving steam tug involved in the Dunkirk evacuation of 1940 and give the public access to the ship and its history March 2001 
			 Mary Rose Trust Mary Rose—Hull Conservation (Phase 1) £488,000 To complete Phase 1 of a three phase hull conservation programme. Phase 1 is to impregnate the inner sound core of every timber to prevent cell wall shrinkage March 2001 
			 HMS Trincomalee Trust HMS Trincomalee Restoration Project, Hartlepool £4,005,000 Completion of the Trincomalee restoration project which aims to restore the ship HMS Trincomalee as well as establish a visitor centre June 2001 
			 Grimsay Boatshed Trust Turning the Tide £49,500 Restoration of Grimsay boats December 2001 
			   
			 Total (5)  £4,864,400

Historic Urban Parks: Heritage Lottery Funding

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many Victorian parks have received heritage lottery funding in each of the past three years to date; and where these parks are situated.

Baroness Blackstone: The Heritage Lottery Fund supports applications for the refurbishment and restoration of historic urban parks. The number of parks that received funding in the past three years were: 1999—37; 2000—31; 2001—34. While all were of heritage importance, the information available does not allow their exact designation as Victorian parks. A complete list follows, broken down by year, which shows their location.
	
		Heritage Lottery Fund—Parks Programme, Grants Awarded in 1999
		
			 Decision Date Project Title Applicant Awarded Local Authority 
			 26 January 1999 Sandwell, Warley Woods Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council £757,000 Sandwell 
			 26 January 1999 Skegness, Tower Gardens East Lindsey District Council £1,093,000 East Lindsey 
			 09 February 1999 Wellington, Wellington Park—Restoration Taunton Deane Borough Council £296,500 Taunton Deane 
			 09 February 1999 Hornsea Memorial Gardens—Restoration Plan Hornsea Town Council £4,800 East Riding of Yorkshire 
			 16 February 1999 Sunderland, Mowbray Park Sunderland City Council £2,388,750 Sunderland 
			 16 February 1999 Sunderland Winter Gardens City of Sunderland £3,825,000 Sunderland 
			 16 March 1999 Cranbrook, Kent, Bedgebury National Pinetum Forestry Commission £980,000 Tunbridge Wells 
			 16 March 1999 London, Kensington, Emslie Pleasance Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea £1,002,100 Kensington and Chelsea 
			 16 March 1999 Leeds, Roundhay Park Restoration Plan Leeds City Council £22,400 Leeds 
			 16 March 1999 Southend-on-Sea, Southend Cliffs Southend-on-Sea Borough Council £1,500,000 Southend-on-Sea 
			 16 March 1999 London, Edmonton, Pymmes Park London Borough of Enfield £2,343,000 Enfield 
			 16 March 1999 Staunton Country Park Restoration Sir George Staunton Country Park £1,700,000 Havant 
			 16 March 1999 Blaise Castle Estate Bristol City Council £2,784,000 Bristol, City of 
			 16 March 1999 Basingstoke, War Memorial Park Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council £382,000 Basingstoke and Deane 
			 16 March 1999 Ramsgate, Albion Place Gardens & Wellington Crescent Thanet District Council £204,000 Thanet 
			 16 March 1999 Leamington Spa, Jephson & Mill Gardens Warwick District Council £2,889,000 Warwick 
			 16 March 1999 Lincoln, Arboretum & Temple Gardens Lincoln City Council £2,246,000 Lincoln 
			 07 April 1999 Hardwick Park, Sedgefield—Restoration Plan Durham County Council £17,900 Sedgefield 
			 20 April 1999 Greyfriars' Burial Ground, Perth Perth and Kinross Council £245,000 Perth and Kinross 
			 30 April 1999 Ropner Park, Stockton—Restoration Plan Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council £14,100 Stockton-on-Tees 
			 10 June 1999 Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh Dean Cemetery Trust Ltd £150,000 City of Edinburgh 
			 10 June 1999 Castlemilk Park, Glasgow Castlemilk Environment Trust £250,000 Glasgow City 
			 15 June 1999 St Albans, The Vintry Garden, North Churchyard and Romeland Gardens St Albans District Council £242,500 St Albans 
			 15 June 1999 London, Waltham Forest, Coronation Gardens London Borough of Waltham Forest £579,500 Waltham Forest 
			 15 June 1999 Gosport Town Centre Historic Parks Gosport Borough Council £495,000 Gosport 
			 15 June 1999 Hexham Parks Phase II Tynedale Council £232,000 Tynedale 
			 13 July 1999 Wolverhampton, West Park Wolverhampton Metropolitan Borough Council £2,201,000 Wolverhampton 
			 23 July 1999 London, Waltham Forest, Churchyards London Borough of Waltham Forest £32,800 Waltham Forest 
			 03 August 1999 Wolverhampton, St Peters Gardens Phase 2 Wolverhampton Metropolitan Borough Council £275,500 Wolverhampton 
			 03 August 1999 Nottingham Arboretum Nottingham City Council £823,000 Nottingham 
			 05 August 1999 Burnby Hall Gardens, Pocklington Stewarts Burnby Hall Gardens & Museum Trust £43,000 East Riding of Yorkshire 
			 21 September 1999 Saltwell Park, Gateshead Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council £6,949,000 Gateshead 
			 21 September 1999 Painshill Park Education & Visitor Buildings Painshill Park Trust Ltd £1,241,000 Elmbridge 
			 12 October 1999 Amot Hill Park, Arnold—Restoration Plan Gedling Borough Council £12,700 Gedling 
			 15 October 1999 Tunstall Park—Restoration Plan City of Stoke-on-Trent £13,600 Stoke-on-Trent 
			 09 December 1999 Strathpeffer Spa Gardens, Inverness Highland Council £447,700 Highland 
			 14 December 1999 Royal Victoria Park, Bath Bath & North East Somerset District Council £1,395,000 Bath and North East Somerset 
		
	
	
		Heritage Lottery Fund—Parks Programme, Grants Awarded in 2000
		
			 Decision Date Project Title Applicant Awarded Local Authority 
			 27 January 2000 Belle Vue Park, Newport Newport County Borough Council £7,500 Newport 
			 2 February 2000 Pontypool Park Torfaen County Borough Council £723,000 Torfaen 
			 17 February 2000 Hartlepool, Ward Jackson Park Hartlepool Borough Council £1,484,900 Hartlepool 
			 2 March 2000 Matlock Parks Restoration Project Derbyshire Dales District Council £61,000 Derbyshire Dales 
			 29 March 2000 Bath, Newton Park Upper Lake Bath Spa University College £326,300 Bath and North East Somerset 
			 29 March 2000 Whitworth Park Restoration Whitworth Trust £727,500 Derbyshire Dales 
			 11 May 2000 Ashton Gardens, St Annes—Restoration Plan Fylde Borough Council £14,600 Fylde 
			 23 May 2000 Alexandra Palace and Park Alexandra Palace and Park £34,100 Haringey 
			 6 June 2000 Abbey Grounds, Abbey Meadows, Abingdon Vale of White Horse Council £55,000 Vale of White Horse 
			 6 June 2000 Dalzell Park, Motherwell—Restoration Plan North Lanarkshire Council £14,700 North Lanarkshire 
			 15 June 2000 Carmarthen, Aberglasney Historic House And Gardens Aberglasney Restoration Trust £647,100 Carmarthenshire 
			 22 June 2000 Shrewsbury, Quarry Park and Victoria Avenue Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council £1,504,000 Shrewsbury and Atcham 
			 25 July 2000 Buxton, Pavilion Gardens High Peak Borough Council £3,515,300 High Peak 
			 25 July 2000 Broadfield Park, Rochdale Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council £28,900 Rochdale 
			 25 July 2000 Forbury Gardens, Reading Reading Borough Council £117,000 Reading 
			 25 July 2000 Roundhay Park, Leeds Leeds City Council £246,500 Leeds 
			 1 August 2000 South Norwood Lake and Grounds London Borough of Croydon £275,000 Croydon 
			 1 August 2000 Queens Park, Heywood Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council £36,600 Rochdale 
			 3 August 2000 Manchester, Heaton Park Phase 2 Manchester City Council £226,000 Manchester 
			 3 August 2000 Rock Park, Llandrindod Wells—Restoration Plan Friends of Rock Park £7,931 Powys 
			 29 September 2000 Barrow Public Park Borough of Barrow-in-Furness Council £39,600 Barrow-in-Furness 
			 19 October 2000 Sutton-in-Craven Park Sutton-in-Craven Parish Council £111,000 Craven 
			 9 November 2000 Walsall Arboretum Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council £36,100 Walsall 
			 14 November 2000 London, Bromley, Crystal Palace Park Leisure and Community Services, London Borough of Bromley £3,290,500 Bromley 
			 14 November 2000 Albert Park, Middlesbrough Middlesbrough Borough Council £3,361,000 Middlesbrough 
			 5 December 2000 Dorchester Borough Gardens Dorchester Town Council £52,300 West Dorset 
			 5 December 2000 St Margarets Churchyard, West Raynham—Restoration East with West Raynham Parochial Church Council £53,000 North Norfolk 
			 5 December 2000 Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens South Bucks District Council £500,000 South Bucks 
			 5 December 2000 Titchfield Park, Mansfield Mansfield District Council £983,500 Mansfield 
			 8 December 2000 Farnham Park—Restoration Plan Waverley Borough Council £11,900 Waverley 
			 14 December 2000 Leazes Park Newcastle City Council £3,718,000 Newcastle upon Tyne 
		
	
	Heritage Lottery Fund—Parks Programme, Grants Awarded in 2001
	
		
			 Decision Date Project Title Applicant Awarded Local Authority 
			 10 January 2001 Durham Riverbanks—Survey and Restoration Plan Durham City Council £32,200 Durham 
			 30 January 2001 London, Greenwich, Well Hall Pleasaunce London Borough of Greenwich Leisure Services £1,985,400 Greenwich 
			 30 January 2001 Knutsford, Tatton Walled Garden Tatton Park (Cheshire County Council) £1,344,500 Macclesfield 
			 30 January 2001 London, Southwark Park London Borough of Southwark £2,694,500 Southwark 
			 30 January 2001 Peckham Rye Park Restoration London Borough of Southwark £86,000 Southwark 
			 8 February 2001 Peterborough, Central Park Peterborough City Council £629,000 Peterborough 
			 27 February 2001 Ashton Court Estate Bristol City Council £219,500 North Somerset 
			 27 February 2001 Manchester, Heaton Park Phase 2 Manchester City Council £4,973,000 Manchester 
			 22 March 2001 Consett Park, Consett, Derwentside Derwentside District Council £977,000 Derwentside 
			 27 March 2001 Tollcross Park, Glasgow Glasgow City Council, Parks and Recreation Department £2,054,000 Glasgow City 
			 27 March 2001 London, Camden, Coram's Fields Coram's Fields and the Harmsworth Memorial Playground £1,022,700 Camden 
			 24 April 2001 London, Enfield, New River Loop London Borough of Enfield £2,138,500 Enfield 
			 22 May 2001 London, Haringey, Finsbury Park London Borough of Haringey £55,000 Hackney 
			 22 May 2001 Whitby Park, Ellesmere Port Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council £1,032,000 Ellesmere Port and Neston 
			 31 May 2001 Southend-on-Sea, Southend Cliffs Southend-on-Sea Borough Council £1,500,000 Southend-on-Sea 
			 31 May 2001 Broadstairs Seafront Promenade and Gardens Thanet District Council £313,000 Thanet 
			 5 June 2001 Hackworth Park Restoration Shildon Town Council £352,800 Sedgefield 
			 6 June 2001 Maurice Lea Memorial Park South Derbyshire District Council £32,900 South Derbyshire 
			 6 June 2001 Arnot Hill Park Gedling Borough Council £69,200 Gedling 
			 7 June 2001 Lily Hill Park, Bracknell—Restoration Bracknell Forest Borough Council £113,000 Bracknell Forest 
			 12 June 2001 St Helens, Taylor Park St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council £64,300 St Helens 
			 15 June 2001 1773 Rock Garden Restoration, Chelsea Chelsea Physic Garden £12,820 Kensington and Chelsea 
			 17 July 2001 Dunorlan Park, Tunbridge Wells Tunbridge Wells Borough Council £63,500 Tunbridge Wells 
			 11 September 2001 Congleton Town Park Congleton Borough Council £993,000 Congleton 
			 18 September 2001 Cuerden Valley Park Restoration Plan Lancashire Wildlife Trust £19,600 Chorley 
			 18 September 2001 Baxter Park, Dundee Dundee City Council £3,252,000 Dundee City 
			 18 September 2001 Ropner Park, Stockton—Restoration Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council £71,900 Stockton-on-Tees 
			 24 September 2001 Taunton, Vivary Park Taunton Deane Borough Council £552,500 Taunton Deane 
			 13 November 2001 Glasgow Green Glasgow City Council £8,821,000 Glasgow City 
			 13 November 2001 Derby Arboretum Derby City Council £4,246,000 Derby 
			 28 November 2001 Arnot Hill Park Gedling Borough Council £909,000 Gedling 
			 11 December 2001 Liverpool, Sefton Park Palm House Liverpool City Council £2,442,000 Liverpool 
			 11 December 2001 Cuerden Valley Park Restoration Plan Lancashire Wildlife Trust £895,000 Chorley 
			 13 December 2001 Trinity Square Gardens, Landscape Restoration London Borough of Tower Hamlets £310,000 Tower Hamlets

Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art: Arts Council Allocations

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What sum has been committed by the Arts Council of England to the development of the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear; and what are the terms under which that amount has been so allocated.

Baroness Blackstone: The Arts Council has committed £33,885,000 to Baltic Flour Mills for the capital development plus a further £7,500,000 which has been allocated as annual revenue support over five years.
	The Arts Council issues standard conditions which are publicly available and special conditions, which are not, due to commercial confidentiality. Both sets of conditions are closely monitored by the Arts Council.

BBC News 24: Review

Lord Desai: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they plan to announce the terms of reference for the review of BBC News 24.

Baroness Blackstone: The independent review of News 24 which my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has asked Richard Lambert, formerly editor of the Financial Times, to conduct will have the following terms of reference:
	The independent reviewer shall:
	— consider whether, in delivering its News 24 service, the BBC is acting in accordance with the facts and assurances upon which approval to proceed with the service was given;
	— have regard, in reaching any conclusions, to:
	a) the BBC's own report on the performance of News 24 and to any subsequent evidence provided by the corporation; and
	b) views submitted by any other interested parties in response to the BBC's report;
	— submit a report to the Secretary of State, in publishable form, by the end of June 2002, setting out his conclusions and, if appropriate, making any recommendations he believes necessary to ensure that News 24 is operated in line with the original approval.
	My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is today placing on the department's website, www.culture.gov.uk, the BBC's own report on the operation of News 24: this sets out the basis on which the service was approved. We are also arranging for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Richard Lambert is writing to a range of organisations which may wish to comment to him. I would encourage all those with an interest to contribute their views.

Zimbabwe: Targeted Sanctions

The Earl of Caithness: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assets in the United Kingdom have been seized or frozen under the smart sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Since the introduction of targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe, two accounts belonging to two listed individuals containing a total of £76,000 have been frozen. The sanctions regime effectively prevents other targeted individuals gaining access to UK financial services.

Zimbabwe: Targeted Sanctions

The Earl of Caithness: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much money and what assets belonging to those being targeted by smart sanctions against Zimbabwe have been transferred from the United Kingdom since the announcement of the proposed action.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Since the annoucement by EU Finance Ministers on 28 January 2002 that they proposed targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe, we are not aware of any money or assets belonging to targets of the proposed sanctions having been transferred from the United Kingdom. Since the acceptance of the EC Regulation (310/2002) on 21 February 2002 it has been a legal requirement to block such transfers.

Haemophilia

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Futher to the answers by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath concerning recombinant treatment for people with haemophilia on 6 February (HL Deb, cols. 629–30), whether they will now set out in detail the basis on which it was stated that there is no evidence "that recombinant clotting factors are more efficacious than plasma-based products" or "that there is an issue of safety between different products"; and whether they will provide the sources that justify both statements.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: It is generally accepted by United Kingdom clinicians that recombinant and plasma derived clotting factors are equally effective in treating clotting disorders. In guidelines produced by the United Kingdom Haemophilia Doctors Organisations, comparisons between the two types of product revolve around their relative safety, bearing in mind that no medicinal product can ever be completely free from risk. An advantage of recombinant products, where they are entirely free of human albumin, is that they eliminate the risk from blood borne viruses and the theoretical risk from vCJD. However, plasma derived clotting factors are tightly regulated by European and United States authorities to minimise the risk of viral transmission. This is achieved by the screening of donor blood and the anti-viral measures taken during manufacture. By ceasing to use UK plasma in the manufacture of blood products, the Government have already taken steps to reduce the unknown risks from vCJD.
	The Government will make a full statement once we have completed our consideration of the Haemophilia Society's call to extend the provision of recombinant clotting factors to all haemophilia patients in England.

Children Missing from Care

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many children in the care of West Sussex Social Services have gone missing since 1965; whether any have been traced; whether other social service departments have lost children in recent years; and whether they will ask the Social Services Inspectorate to report, with a view to publishing their findings.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: From April 2001 all local authorities in England have been required to include data about the numbers of children in their care who go missing for 24 hours or more in their annual statistical return to the Department of Health. Prior to 2001, councils had to return data on numbers of children who were missing for more than seven days. Data concerning this issue were not available in 1965.
	West Sussex Council has provided the following information to the department about young people in its care who have gone missing without trace since 1995. These were predominantly asylum-seeking young women from West Africa. In 1995 one person went missing; this figure was two in 1996; seven in 1997; 11 in 1998; 23 in 1999 and 21 in 2000. By 2001, the council had developed procedures to identify and support young people from abroad who were particularly vulnerable; by January 2002 six had gone missing. While other young people in the council's care do go missing temporarily from their placements, it would be extremely rare for a young person to go missing without trace.
	Research about young runaways sponsored by the department and by voluntary organisations, suggests that looked after children missing from residential or foster care are more likely to run away than those living at home. The majority of these young people are found within 48 hours. According to the Department of Health's statistical return of the young people missing from their care placements during the course of 1999–2000 approximately 140 were absent for over six months.
	The Department of Health is working closely with the Social Exclusion Unit and is preparing guidance for local authorities, the police, health agencies and the voluntary sector concerning good practice and procedures on children missing from care.

NHS National Standards of Cleanliness

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 1 March (WA 216), what are the national standards for cleanliness in the National Health Service.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The National Standards of Cleanliness for the NHS is available in hard copy from Her Majesty's Stationery Office. The entire document is also available on the NHS Estates website, www.nhsestates.gov.uk

NHS Hospitals: "Hotel Charges"

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have given any consideration to introducing "hotel charges" in National Health Service hospitals.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government have no plans to introduce "hotel" charges in National Health Service hospitals.

Court Attendance: Assistance with Costs

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether crisis loans from the Social Fund are available towards the cost of attending court; and
	Whether any help is available to people on means-tested benefits who are compelled to spend a night away from home by a need to attend court.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: Social Fund crisis loans are not generally available to meet the costs incurred by people attending court. Exceptionally, a crisis loan may be made to meet emergency travelling expenses where a person is stranded away from home.
	In criminal law cases the Crown Prosecution Service are able to help with the cost of travelling expenses and, where necessary, overnight stays.

Camborne Emergency Drain

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How often the emergency drain, agreed by the Environment Agency for the discharge of raw sewage from the Camborne project, has been used.

Lord Whitty: The emergency overflow of the station used to pump sewage from the Camborne development to Uttons Drove treatment works has discharged twice since the Environment Agency's consent was issued in April 1999.
	The first, for several hours on 22 October 2001, happened when major flooding occurred within the Camborne catchment. The second was for a few minutes on 6 November 2001.
	Overflows are a necessary part of sewerage systems as they help to prevent flooding of properties by backed-up sewage. The Environment Agency consulted on and considered a wide range of water quality issues in determining the consent application, and set stringent conditions to minimise operation of the overflow. These safeguards include storage and solids separation to reduce the pollution from any overflows.

Paper and Board Recycling

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 23 January (WA 208), whether they wish to update any of the figures for recycling contained therein.

Lord Whitty: Following the Written Answer I gave on 23 January, Official Report, WA 208, I would like to update the figures I gave for amount of paper and board recycled.
	The figures given in the Written Answer on 23 January related to 1998, and updated figures for 1998 and subsequent years have since been provided. The updated figure for paper and board recycled in 1998 is 4,654,400 tonnes. In 1999, 4,753,000 tonnes of paper and board were recycled and 4,882,200 tonnes were recycled in 2000.

Environment Agency: Financial, Management and Policy Review

Lord Desai: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made towards the completion of the first five-yearly financial, management and policy review of the Environment Agency.

Lord Whitty: We are pleased to announce that the department is today publishing the second and final stage of this review.
	The findings of the review establish a basis for a new and strategic relationship between the agency and its sponsors; more effective business planning and performance review; a sharpening of efficiency; and a wide range of actions by both the agency and its sponsors towards the improved delivery of environmental functions.
	A copy of the report has been placed in Libraries of both Houses.